Mena Intermountain Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mena, Arkansas 71593
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 19:29 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot established a descent from a cruise altitude of 8,500 feet for an approach and landing to refuel on the second leg of a cross-country flight. At an altitude of about 5,000 feet, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot attempted to restore power by adjusting the throttle, mixture, and magnetos. The engine lost power completely. The pilot then attempted a restart and was unsuccessful. A forced landing was made to an open field between two rows of houses. During the landing roll, the airplane's wings hit a stop sign and several trees. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector on scene, the engine had compression, turned over by hand, and showed no outward signs of failure. No reason could be determined for the loss of engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/24/2009
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1929
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Mena
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 71593
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 343214N
Event Location Longitude 0941343W
Event Location Airport Mena Intermountain Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KMEZ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1080
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1935 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID KMEZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 1080
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 35
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.91
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KMEZ 250055Z AUTO 06004KT 10SM CLR 35/17 A29
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25864
NTSB Notification Source SW Regional Operations Center,
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 28 2009 12:45AM
User who most recently changed record lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N604X
NTSB Number CEN09CA391
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SHULTZ JEFFREY D
Aircraft Model SONEX
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 604
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SHULTZ JEFFREY D
Aircraft Owner Street Address 14405 HOWARD LN
Aircraft Owner City DIXON
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 65459-7566
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name SHULTZ JEFFREY D
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 14405 HOWARD LN
Operator City DIXON
Operator State MO
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 65459-7566
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code F44
Departure City Athens
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KMEZ
Destination City Mena
Destination State AR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 10 2009 2:06PM
User who most recently changed record gamw
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --